The new facility will be capable of loading 36,000 155mm artillery rounds per month, making it a cornerstone of U.S. and allied defence readiness. It will integrate lean manufacturing principles, robotics, automation and advanced System Control and Data Acquisition systems, ensuring operator safety and consistent quality while allowing seamless product changes with minimal downtime.
Construction is planned to last 40 months, with commissioning and production expected to begin in September 2029. Around 70 highly skilled personnel will be employed across manufacturing, quality assurance and operations support, while the project will help protect jobs in the Burlington and Middletown area of Iowa for more than half a century.
The FAC represents a unique case of a strategic U.S. Army programme being entrusted to a subsidiary of a European defence group. CSG contributed to the success with its technical know-how, drawing on expertise from several European facilities, underlining the strengthening of transatlantic defence cooperation.
Michal Strnad, Owner and Chairman of the Board of Czechoslovak Group (CSG), said: “Congratulations to Jason Gaines, CEO of MSM North America, and his team on securing the contract to build the Future Artillery Complex (FAC) for the U.S. Army. This is a tremendous success, made unique by the fact that the trust was given to a company that is part of a European defense industry group. This project is proof of CSG’s global reach and its ability to contribute to strengthening the defense readiness of our allies. I am proud that CSG’s technical know-how and strategic support helped secure this victory, which opens new growth opportunities for MSM North America in the U.S. market. We are also grateful to our U.S. industry partners, without whom we would not have been able to offer such a complete solution.”
Jason W. Gaines, Chief Executive Officer of MSM North America, said: “We are deeply honored by the trust the U.S. Army has placed in us with this contract. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the CSG team for their invaluable support and expertise, without which MSM North America would not have secured this opportunity. We are excited to collaborate with a top-tier team of American firms under MSM North America’s leadership to deliver this transformative project.”
MSM North America will act as prime contractor and project integrator, coordinating design, construction and system implementation with U.S. partners. These include WIELAND of Michigan for site development and construction, IPS Custom Automation in Texas for robotics and automation, and DetTX in Dallas for energetics processing, process design, environmental compliance and safety. Other collaborators are Cromwell, SMS, Weldon, VJ Technologies and Lee Industries.
The Future Artillery Complex will be the most advanced ammunition loading facility in the world, designed to explosively load current and future 155mm rounds using a melt-cast process, with assembly capacity for multiple round types. It will comply with OSHA 1910.119(e), DoD Manual 4145.26, MIL-STD-882E and DESR 6055.09, with approvals from the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board and coordination with Iowa state agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Beyond this project, CSG is a key European producer of large-calibre ammunition, distinguished by its advanced vertical integration. Unlike many competitors, it controls nearly the entire production chain, from raw materials such as TNT and nitrocellulose to finished 155mm and 120mm rounds, across facilities in Spain, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Serbia and Greece.
This comprehensive approach enables CSG to guarantee reliable supply chains, meet NATO standards and support urgent defence needs. The group has already provided significant deliveries of 155mm artillery rounds and other large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine, reinforcing Europe’s defence resilience. Ongoing expansions include doubling shell body and explosive filling capacity within two years and introducing new TNT and nitrocellulose production.
As a Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) facility, the FAC will give the U.S. Army resilient and scalable capacity for 155mm ammunition. It is expected to serve as the Army’s main source of load, assemble and pack requirements, with potential support for Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales, serving all branches of the Armed Forces through the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition.
